Special department to oversee flood threat proposed

Parti Warisan Sabah proposed the establishment of a special department under the Chief Minister’s Department to oversee the growing flood threat in the State.

With global warming causing increased rainfalls, unpredictable and changing monsoon/tropical depression patterns within the past 10 years, unplanned development taking places all over Sabah and old, inefficient drainage system particularly within the urban areas, there is now an urgent need for the state to have its own flood specialist department, said Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking.

“This department should comprise geology experts who are empowered to call for discussion and meetings with officials and engineers from the Town and Regional Planning Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department, Public Works Department and local authorites in formulating the best strategies to reduce, if not to end, the growing threat of flood in the State,” he explained in a statement yesterday.

Leiking said: “When we talk about flooding, it is actually a geology subject because it involves the study of geographical condition and movement of soil or water within a specific area, hence, we should entrust experts in this field to come out with the draft flood mitigation plan for a particular district after consultation with officials from the aforesaid departments and agencies in the formulation of best strategies.

“Thereafter, we should break away from the ‘one size fits all’ approach currently adopted by the State Government by allowing greater participation and inclusivity from the affected communities and stakeholders by displaying for public viewing the draft flood mitigation plan prepared by this special flood department for any particular district.

“The public display of the said draft flood mitigation plan will allow concerned and affected individuals, NGOs and community leaders such as Village Development and Security Committees and village heads who have better geographical understanding about their particular area to give the inputs and feedbacks to the draft,” he added.

“And after we have completed the public viewing with further amendments have been made (if there’s any), we could then secure the funding for the flood mitigation plan from the Federal Government through the Chief Minister’s Department.

“And in the event the Federal Government lacks sufficient fundings to enable the mitigation plan to immediately commence, then the State Government can always adopt the approach taken by the Sarawak State Government with ‘fix now bill Federal later’ with regards to old and worn out schools there,” he pointed out.

If the State Government refuses to create this special flood department by claiming that it will cause overlapping of tasks with other departments and agencies, he said Warisan would create it when given the mandate by Sabahans to form the new State Government this coming general election.